Method and apparatus for generating an item menu for use during operation of a self-service checkout terminal

ABSTRACT

A method of displaying an item name having a first word, a second word, and a third word on an item list of an item selection menu of a retail terminal includes the step of displaying a first version of the item name on the item list of the item selection menu such that the first word is followed by the second word which is followed by the third word. The method also includes the step of displaying a second version of the item name on the item list of the item selection menu such that the second word is followed by the first word which is followed by the third word. Moreover, the method includes the step of displaying a third version of the item name on the item list of the item selection menu such that the third word is followed by the first word which is followed by the second word. A retail terminal is also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE

Cross reference is made to copending U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/217,544, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Entering an Item Nameinto a Self-Service Checkout Terminal” by Dusty L. Lutz, Brian P.Cooper, and Jackie L. Huffman, which is assigned to the same assignee asthe present invention, and which is filed concurrently herewith.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a self-service checkoutterminal, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for generatingan item menu for use during operation of a self-service checkoutterminal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the retail industry, the largest expenditures are typically the costof the goods sold followed closely by the cost of labor expended. Withparticular regard to the retail grocery or supermarket industry, theimpetus to reduce labor costs has focused on reducing or eliminating theamount of time required to handle and/or process the items or goods tobe purchased by a customer. To this end, there have been a number ofself-service checkout terminal concepts developed which attempt tosubstantially eliminate the need for a checkout clerk.

A self-service checkout terminal is a system which is operated by acustomer without the aid of a checkout clerk. In such a system, thecustomer scans individual items for purchase across a scanner and thenplaces the scanned item into a grocery bag, if desired. The customerthen pays for his or her purchase either at the self-service checkoutterminal if so equipped, or at a central payment area which is staffedby a store employee. Thus, a self-service checkout terminal permits acustomer to select, itemize, and in some cases pay for his or her itemsfor purchase without the assistance of the retailer's personnel.

However, in particular to a grocery store, there are a relatively largenumber of items available in the store that do not have a bar code suchas a universal product code (UPC) associated therewith. Generally, thoseitems not having a bar code associated therewith are items whose priceis based upon the weight of the item. Examples of such items includebulk foods, store prepared foods, and produce such as fruits andvegetables which are typically sold based on the weight of the item(s)to be purchased. The trend in the supermarket industry has been todetermine the weight of an un-scannable item at the checkout terminalduring the checkout process by using a weight scale (typicallyassociated with a slot scanner device). What is meant herein by the useof the term “un-scannable” item is an item that is manually entered intoa checkout terminal (i.e. entered in a manner other than by use of ascanner device).

In order to “key-in” or otherwise process an un-scannable item, acustomer operating the self-service checkout terminal must place theun-scannable item on the weight scale and then perform a checkoutprocedure for the un-scannable item which involves the input of theidentity of the us-scannable item. The identity of the un-scannable itemis typically input into the self-service checkout terminal by enteringan item code such as a product lookup (PLU) code with a keypad or atouch screen associated with the terminal. However, the customer may notreadily know the item code associated with the un-scannable item.

A number of varying approaches have been taken in regard to entry of theitem code into the self-service checkout terminal. One approach that hasheretofore been utilized is to have retail personnel such as a retailclerk enter the item code associated with each un-scannable item eitherat the terminal itself or at a remote supervisory terminal connected tothe self-service checkout terminal via the store's network. However,such an approach undesirably requires intervention into the customer'stransaction by retail personnel thereby increasing labor costsassociated with retailer's operation and potentially reducing theefficiency of the self-service checkout terminal if the terminal isidled while waiting for an available checkout clerk to enter thenecessary item codes.

Another approach which has heretofore been utilized to enter the itemcode associated with un-scannable items is to place a book containing alist of all of the available item codes at a location near theself-service checkout terminal. However, use of such a book isinherently slow and it is difficult for the retailer to keep the bookup-to-date thereby potentially causing confusion for the customer. Yetanother approach which has been taken is to display an item selectionmenu on the display monitor associated with the self-service checkoutterminal for use by the customer. Such item selection menus which haveheretofore been designed contain an item list of each of theun-scannable items sold by the retailer. Such an item list is groupedinto a number of categories based on the type of the item. For example,all fruits are placed in one category, all vegetables are placed inanother category, and all bulk foods are placed in yet another category.

However, use of such an item list has a number of drawbacks associatedtherewith. For example, if the customer chooses an incorrect category atthe beginning of his or her search attempt, he or she is likely not tofind the item he or she is attempting to find. For example, if thecustomer chooses the “vegetables” category in an attempt to findtomatoes, the customer may not locate the desired item (i.e. tomatoes)if the retailer placed tomatoes in the “fruits” category. In addition,the item names are typically placed in alphabetical order within eachcategory of the item selection menu. Hence, a customer attempting tolocate “BELL PEPPERS” may be undesirably delayed if he or she issearching in the “B's” section of the list and the item name associatedwith bell peppers is actually located in the “P's” section of the listunder the item name “PEPPERS, BELL”.

What is needed therefore is a retail checkout terminal which overcomesone or more of the above-mentioned drawbacks. What is particularlyneeded is a method and apparatus for entering an item name of anun-scannable item into a self-service checkout terminal which allows thecustomer to quickly and efficiently find an item name in an item list ofan item selection menu. What is further needed is a method and apparatusfor generating an item selection menu that facilitates quick andefficient identification of a desired item name by a customer operatinga self-service checkout terminal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of displaying an item name having a first word and asecond word on an item list of an item selection menu of a retailterminal. The method includes the step of displaying a first version ofthe item name on the item list of the item selection menu such that thefirst word is followed by the second word. The method also includes thestep of displaying a second version of the item name on the item list ofthe item selection menu such that the second word is followed by thefirst word.

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided a method of displaying an item name having a first word, asecond word, and a third word on an item list of an item selection menuof a retail terminal. The method includes the step of displaying a firstversion of the item name on the item list of the item selection menusuch that the first word is followed by the second word which isfollowed by the third word. The method also includes the step ofdisplaying a second version of the item name on the item list of theitem selection menu such that the second word is followed by the firstword which is followed by the third word. Moreover, the method includesthe step of displaying a third version of the item name on the item listof the item selection menu such that the third word is followed by thefirst word which is followed by the second word.

In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a retail terminal. The retail terminal includes a displaymonitor for displaying an item name having a first word and a secondword on an item list of an item selection menu. The retail terminal alsoincludes a processing unit electrically coupled to the display monitor.Moreover, the retail terminal includes a memory device electricallycoupled to the processing unit. The memory device has stored therein aplurality of instructions which, when executed by the processing unit,causes the processing unit to (i) display a first version of the itemname on the item list of the item selection menu with the displaymonitor such that the first word is followed by the second word, and(ii) display a second version of the item name on the item list of theitem selection menu with the display monitor such that the second wordis followed by the first word.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new anduseful method and apparatus of operating a self-service checkoutterminal.

It is moreover an object of the present invention to provide an improvedmethod and apparatus for operating a self-service checkout terminal.

It is yet further an object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus for entering an item name of an un-scannable item into aself-service checkout terminal which allows a customer to quickly andefficiently find an item name in an item list of an item selection menu.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus for generating an item selection menu that facilitatesquick and efficient identification of a desired item name by a customeroperating a self-service checkout terminal.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description and theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a self-service checkout terminal whichincorporates the features of the present invention therein;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of the self-service checkoutterminal of FIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3-8 illustrate various screen displays which are displayed on thedisplay monitor during operation of the self-service checkout terminalof FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications andalternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof has been shown by wayof example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. Itshould be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit theinvention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, theintention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternativesfalling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a retail terminal such as aself-service checkout terminal 10 for use in a retail business such as agrocery store. The self-service checkout terminal 10 includes asummoning device such as a status light device 11, a product scale 12, ascanner 14, a bagwell scale 20, a card reader 30, a display monitor 32,a keypad 34, a printer 36, and a processing unit 26. The card reader 30,the display monitor 32, the keypad 34, and the printer 36 may beprovided as separate components, or alternatively may preferably beprovided as components of an automated teller machine (ATM) 24.

The self-service checkout terminal 10 also includes a bagwell 38 foraccommodating one or more grocery bags (not shown) and a base 40 havinga counter 42 secured thereto. The counter 42 defines an arcuate surfaceas shown in FIG. 1. Such an arcuate surface allows the scanner 14 to bepositioned relatively close or otherwise proximate the ATM 24 and hencethe components associated therewith. Such a configuration facilitates auser's (e.g. customer's) use of the self-service checkout terminal 10.Moreover, the bagwell 38 is configured to allow two or more grocery bagsto be accessed by the customer at any given time thereby allowing acustomer to selectively load various item types into the grocery bags.For example, the customer may desire to use a first grocery bag forhousehold chemical items such as soap or bleach, and a second grocerybag for edible items such as meat and produce.

The scanner 14 conventionally scans or reads a product identificationcode such as a Universal Product Code (UPC), industrial symbol(s),alphanumeric character(s), or other indicia associated with an item tobe purchased. One scanner which may be used in the present invention isa model number 7875 bi-optic scanner which is commercially availablefrom NCR Corporation of Dayton, Ohio.

The scanner 14 includes a first scanning window 14 a and a secondscanning window 14 b. The first scanning window 14 a is disposed in asubstantially horizontal manner, whereas the second scanning window 14 bis disposed in a substantially vertical manner, as shown in FIG. 1. Theproduct scale 12 is integrated with the scanner 14. More specifically,the product scale 12 is disposed substantially parallel to the scanningwindow 14 a thereby enveloping the scanning window 14 a. If an item suchas produce is placed upon the product scale 12 or the first scanningwindow 14 a, the product scale 12 may be used to determine the weight ofthe item.

The scanner 14 also includes a light source (not shown) such as a laser,a rotating mirror (not shown) driven by a motor (not shown), and amirror array (not shown). In operation, a laser beam reflects off therotating mirror and mirror array to produce a pattern of scanning lightbeams. As the product identification code on an item is passed over thescanner 14, the scanning light beams scatter off the code and arereturned to the scanner 14 where they are collected and detected. Thereflected light is then analyzed electronically in order to determinewhether the reflected light contains a valid code pattern. If a validcode pattern is present, the product identification code may then beutilized to retrieve product information associated with the item (e.g.the price of the item).

The display monitor 32 displays instructions which serve to guide acustomer through a checkout procedure. For example, an instruction isdisplayed on the display monitor 32 which instructs the customer toenter an item into the self-service checkout terminal 10 by eitherpassing the item over the scanner 14, or placing the item on the productscale 12 in order to obtain the weight of the item. Moreover, as shallbe discussed below in more detail, the display monitor 32 is utilized todisplay an item selection menu which includes a list of all of theun-scannable items sold by the retailer. Such an item selection menu isparticularly useful for checking out an item which cannot be scannedwith the scanner 14. The display monitor 32 is preferably a known touchscreen monitor which can generate data signals when certain areas of thescreen are touched by a customer.

The status light device 11 is provided in order to notify storepersonnel, such as a customer service manager, if intervention into thecustomer's transaction is needed. In particular, as discussed in moredetail below, the status light device 11 may display a first coloredlight (e.g. yellow light) in order to notify retail personnel thatintervention is needed prior to the end of the customer's checkouttransaction. Alternatively, the status light device 11 may display asecond colored light (e.g. a red light) in order to notify retailpersonnel that intervention into the customer's transaction is neededimmediately.

The bagwell scale 20 is a weight scale which monitors the weight ofitems placed in the bagwell 38 (i.e. into a grocery bag) or onto theportion of the counter 42 which is located proximate the bagwell 38. Itshould be appreciated that a customer may place an item onto the portionof the counter 42 proximate the bagwell 38 subsequent to entering theitem, but prior to placing the item into a grocery bag. For example, ifa customer scans a loaf of bread, the customer may want to place thebread onto the portion of the counter 42 proximate the bagwell 38 untilone of the grocery bags is nearly full thereby preventing the bread frombeing crushed. Hence, the bagwell scale 20 may be utilized to monitorthe ingress and egress of items into and out of the bagwell 38 alongwith onto and off of the counter 42. Such monitoring is particularlyuseful for preventing items which have not been scanned from beingplaced into a grocery bag.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a simplified block diagram ofthe self-service checkout terminal 10. The processing unit 26 iselectrically coupled to the product scale 12, the scanner 14, thebagwell scale 20, the card reader 30, the display monitor 32, and thekeypad 34. The processing unit 26 is also electrically coupled to anetwork 25 and a memory device 27.

The processing unit 26 monitors output signals generated by the scanner14 via a data communication line 29. In particular, when the customerscans an item which includes a product identification code across thescanning windows 14 a, 14 b, an output signal indicative of the productidentification code is generated on the data communication line 29.

The processing unit 26 is coupled to the product scale 12 via a datacommunication line 31. In particular, when a customer places an item onthe product scale 12, the product scale 12 generates an output signal onthe data communication line 31 indicative of the weight of the item.

The processing unit 26 is coupled to the bagwell scale 20 via a datacommunication line 52. In particular, when a customer places an iteminto a grocery bag or onto the portion of the counter 42 proximate thebagwell 38, the bagwell scale 20 generates an output signal on the datacommunication line 52 indicative of the weight of the items in thegrocery bags and on the portion of the counter 42 proximate the bagwell20.

The processing unit 26 communicates with the display monitor 32 througha data communication line 43. The processing unit 26 generates outputsignals on the data communication line 43 which cause variousinstructional messages to be displayed on the display monitor 32. Asalluded to above, the display monitor 32 may include known touch screentechnology which can generate output signals when the customer touches aparticular area of the display screen associated with the displaymonitor 32. The signals generated by the display monitor 32 aretransmitted to the processing unit 26 via the data communication line43. It should be appreciated that the various instructional messages mayalso be communicated via other devices in addition to or in lieu of thedisplay monitor 32. For example, instructional messages may be generatedwith a voice generating device (not shown) or an audible tone generatingdevice (not shown).

The keypad 34 is coupled to the processing unit 26 through a datacommunication line 49. The keypad 34 may include one or more of a knownkeypad or a touch pad. It should be appreciated that the touch screenassociated with the display monitor 32 and the keypad 34 define inputdevices which may be utilized by a customer to input informationassociated with operation of the self-service checkout terminal 10. Itshould also be appreciated that numerous other input devices may also beutilized by the customer to input information associated with operationof the self-service checkout terminal 10.

Moreover, the card reader 30 is coupled to the processing unit through adata communication line 45. The card reader 30 may include a knowncredit, debit, loyalty, and/or smart card reader which is capable ofreading information stored on the customer's card.

The processing unit 26 includes network interface circuitry (not shown)which conventionally permits the self-service checkout terminal 10 tocommunicate with the retailer's network 25 such as a LAN or WAN througha wired connection 51. The processing unit 26 communicates with theretailer's network 25 during the checkout procedure in order to obtaininformation, such as pricing information, associated with an item beingscanned, weighed, or otherwise entered, and also to verify customercredit approval when appropriate. The network interface circuitryassociated with the self-service checkout terminal 10 may include aknown Ethernet expansion card, and the wired connection 51 may include aknown twisted-pair communication line. Alternatively, the networkinterface circuitry may support wireless communications with theretailer's network 25.

The processing unit 26 communicates with the memory device 27 via a datacommunication line 53. The memory device 27 is provided to maintain anelectronic transaction table which includes a record of the productinformation associated with each item that is scanned, weighed, orotherwise entered during the customer's use of the self-service checkoutterminal 10. For example, if the customer scans a can of soup, thedescription of the soup and the pricing information associated therewithis recorded in the transaction table in the memory device 27. Similarly,if the customer weighs a watermelon with the product scale 12 and thenenters a product lookup code associated with watermelon via the datainput device 34, product information associated with the watermelon isrecorded in the transaction table.

It should therefore be appreciated that the sum of each of the itemsrecorded in the transaction table (1) minus any reductions (e.g.coupons), and (2) plus any applicable taxes is the amount that thecustomer pays for his or her transaction. Moreover, data stored in thetransaction table is printed out on the printer 36 thereby generating areceipt for the customer at the end of his or her transaction.

The memory device 27 is also utilized to store a plurality ofinstructions or a code which are utilized to generate an item selectionmenu 50 a portion of which is shown in FIG. 3. The item selection menu50 includes an item list 52 which has a number of item names includedtherein. The item list 52 preferably includes the item name of everyun-scannable item sold by the retailer (although only a small portion ofthe item list 52 is shown in FIG. 3). In particular, as shown in FIG. 3,the item list 52 is not separated by categories (e.g. fruits,vegetables, bulk foods, etc.), but rather is a “super list” of all ofthe un-scannable items sold by the retailer. As shall be discussed belowin more detail, the self-service checkout terminal 10 is configured suchthat the customer can quickly and easily “jump” to the portion of theitem list 52 which includes the item name of the item that he or she isattempting to enter into the terminal 10.

In order to facilitate a customer's search for the item name associatedthe un-scannable item that he or she is attempting to enter into theself-service checkout terminal 10, the item list 52 has “redundant” itemnames included therein. In particular, if the name of given itemincludes more than one word (i.e. a multi-word item name), the item list52 includes a number of different versions of the item name. Forexample, the item name “GREEN BELL PEPPER” would appear in the item list52 of the item selection menu 50 in three versions. A first version ofthe item name would appear as it is initially written, namely “GREENBELL PEPPER”. A second version of the item name would appear as “BELLGREEN PEPPER”, whereas a third version of the item name would appear as“PEPPER GREEN BELL”. It should be appreciated that each of the differentversions of the item name would be alphabetically organized in theportion of the item list 52 containing other item names which begin withthe same letter as the first word of each version. In particular, thefirst version of the item name (i.e. “GREEN BELL PEPPER”) wouldalphabetically appear in the portion of the item list 52 with otherwords which begin with the letter “G”. Similarly, the second version ofthe item name (i.e. “BELL GREEN PEPPER”) would alphabetically appear inthe portion of the item list 52 with other words which begin with theletter “B”, whereas the third version of the item name (i.e. “PEPPERGREEN BELL”) would alphabetically appear in the portion of the item list52 with other words which begin with the letter “P”. Hence, from theabove discussion, it should be appreciated that the customer should beable to find at least one version of an item name irrespective of whichorder he or she thinks the words of the item name should appear.

The self-service checkout terminal 10 generates the item list 52 fromthe various databases maintained during operation of a typical retailsystem. In particular, the processing unit 26 communicates with thenetwork 25 so as to retrieve each list or collection of group listsmaintained on the central server (not shown) associated with theretailer's operation. The processing unit then combines all of theretrieved lists into a single list 52 (e.g. a “super list”) andthereafter disregards or otherwise removes any item name on the list 52which has a zero dollar ($0) price associated therewith (such a zerodollar price typically indicates that the item is not currently beingsold in the store). Thereafter, the processing unit 26 alters the itemlist 52 so as to convert all separators (e.g. ‘(’, ‘)’, ‘/’, ‘-’, and‘&’) to single spaces. Once done, the processing unit 26 again altersthe item list 52 so as to remove all redundant spaces such that only asingle space separates each word of a multi-word item name. Hence atthis point, an item name which was listed on a retrieved vegetable listas “TOMATO (VINE RIPENED)” would appear as “TOMATO VINE RIPENED”.

For each multi-word item name in the item list 52, a number of differentversions are then created. In particular, if the item name includesthree words (e.g. “TOMATO VINE RIPENED”), three versions of the itemname will be created. Each version will begin with a different wordfollowed by the remaining words in the item name which are ordered so asto retain their original order in order to best keep the spirit of theoriginal item name. For example, as shown in FIGS. 3-5, the item name“GREEN BELL PEPPER” would be included in the item list 52 in threedifferent versions—“GREEN BELL PEPPER”, “BELL GREEN PEPPER”, and “PEPPERGREEN BELL”. Similarly, the item name “IDAHO BAKERS” would be includedin the item list 52 in two different versions “IDAHO BAKERS” and “BAKERSIDAHO”. It should be appreciated that each different version of the itemname would be alphabetically placed in the item list 52 of the itemselection menu 50 based on the first character of the particularversion. For example, the version “IDAHO BAKERS” would be placed in theitem list 52 with other item names which begin with “I”, whereas theversion “BAKERS IDAHO” would be placed in the item list 52 with othernames which begin with “B”.

In order to allow a customer to quickly and efficiently enter the itemcode associated with an un-scannable item, the processing unit 26 causesa number of interface screens to be displayed on the display monitor 32.If the customer indicates that he or she has an un-scannable item to beentered by either placing the un-scannable item on the product scale 12so as to “trigger” the item code entry process (if the self-servicecheckout terminal 10 is so equipped) or by touching a particular key onthe keypad 34 or a particular touch block on the touch screen associatedwith the display monitor 32, an initial screen 54 is displayed on thedisplay monitor 32 (see FIG. 6) which instructs the customer to enterthe item code associated with the un-scannable item by use of either thekeypad 34 or the touch screen associated with the display monitor 32 ifthe customer already knows the item code associated with theun-scannable item. The initial screen 54 also includes a “LOOK UP ITEM”touch block 56. If the customer does not know the item code associatedwith the un-scannable item, the customer may touch or otherwise actuatethe LOOK UP ITEM touch block 56 so as to cause a character entry screen58 to be displayed on the display monitor 32 (see FIG. 7). The characterentry screen 58 includes an instruction which instructs the customer toenter the first three letters or characters of the name associated withthe un-scannable item. As shown in FIG. 7, the character entry screen 58includes a number of touch blocks 60 which mimic a keyboard. Hence, ifthe customer touches the touch block 60 associated with the letter “B”,a “B” is input into the self-service checkout terminal 10.

Once the customer has entered a number of characters (e.g. the firstthree letters of the item name), a character-entered control signal isgenerated thereby causing a section of the item selection menu 50 to bedisplayed as an item selection screen 64 on the display monitor 32 asshown in FIG. 8. The section of the item selection menu 50 displayed onthe item selection screen 66 includes the portion of the item list 52which has the item names which most closely match the characters (e.g.letters) entered by the customer. For example, if the customer enteredthe letters “BAN”, the portion of the item list 52 containing item nameswhich begin with the letters “BAN” is displayed on the display monitor32 as shown in FIG. 8. It should be appreciated that if no item namesmatch the three-letter combination entered by the customer, theprocessing unit 26 retrieves the portion of the item list 52 whichcontains item names which most closely match the entered letters. Forexample, if the customer entered the letters “BAM” and the item list 52is devoid of item names which begin with the letters “BAM”, theprocessing unit 26 would retrieve the same portion of the item list 52shown in FIG. 8.

Each of the item names included in the portion of the item list 52displayed on the display monitor 32 has a touch block 66 associatedtherewith. If the customer touches the touch block 66 associated with agiven item name, an item-entered control signal is generated. Theprocessing unit 26 enters a record corresponding to the enteredun-scannable item in response to generation of the item-entered controlsignal. In particular, the processing unit 26 retrieves productinformation such as a price-per-pound cost and description from thenetwork 25 and thereafter calculates the price of the un-scannable itemby multiplying the weight of the item (as determined by the productscale 12 if the un-scannable item is positioned thereon) times theprice-per-pound cost of the item. Thereafter, the processing unit 26communicates with the memory device 27 so as to store a recordcorresponding to the entered item in the transaction table. As describedto above, the contents of the transaction table are utilized by theprocessing unit 26 to determine the customer's total cost for his or hertransaction.

Moreover, the item selection screen 64 includes an instruction in theform of a pair of scroll “keys” 68, 70 which the customer may utilize toenter a menu-change request if the item name which the customer desiresto input is not included in the portion of the item menu 52 displayed onthe item selection screen 64. If the customer touches one of the scrollkeys 68, 70 a menu-change control signal is generated thereby causing adifferent portion of the item list 52 containing additional item namesto be displayed on the display monitor 32 for consideration by thecustomer.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, such an illustration and descriptionis to be considered as exemplary and not restrictive in character, itbeing understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown anddescribed and that all changes and modifications that come within thespirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

For example, although as described herein the customer enters threeletters before a portion of the item list 52 is displayed, it should beappreciated that a portion of the item list 52 may displayed as soon asany number of characters (i.e. letters) have been entered by thecustomer. For example, a portion of the item list 52 may be displayed assoon as the first letter of the item name is entered.

1. A method of displaying an item name having a first word and a secondword on an item list of an item selection menu of a retail terminal,comprising the steps of: displaying a first version of said item name onsaid item list of said item selection menu such that said first word isfollowed by said second word; and displaying a second version of saiditem name on said item list of said item selection menu such that saidsecond word is followed by said first word.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein said item name further has a third word, further comprising thesteps of: displaying a third version of said item name on said item listof said item selection menu such that said first word is followed bysaid second word which is followed by said third word; displaying afourth version of said item name on said item list of said itemselection menu such that said second word is followed by said first wordwhich is followed by said third word; and displaying a fifth version ofsaid item name on said item list of said item selection menu such thatsaid third word is followed by said first word which is followed by saidsecond word.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:determining if a user of said retail terminal operates an input deviceassociated with said retail terminal so as to select said first versionof said item name from said item list of said item selection menu andgenerating an item-entered control signal in response thereto; anddetermining if said user of said retail terminal operates said inputdevice associated with said retail terminal so as to select said secondversion of said item name from said item list of said item selectionmenu and generating said item-entered control signal in responsethereto.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step ofentering a record corresponding to an item associated with said itemname in an electronic transaction table in response to generation ofsaid item-entered control signal.
 5. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising the steps of: displaying an instruction which instructs auser to input a menu-change request if neither said first version ofsaid item name nor said second version of said item name is included ina first portion of said item selection menu displayed with a displaymonitor associated with said retail terminal; determining if said useroperates an input device associated with said retail terminal so as toinput said menu-change request and generating a menu-change controlsignal in response thereto; and displaying a second portion of said itemselection menu with said display monitor in response to generation ofsaid menu-change control signal.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein: saidstep of displaying said first version of said item name on said itemlist of said item selection menu includes the step of displaying saidfirst version of said item name in alphabetical order on said item listof said item selection menu based on said first word, and said step ofdisplaying said second version of said item name on said item list ofsaid item selection menu includes the step of displaying said secondversion of said item name in alphabetical order on said item list ofsaid item selection menu based on said second word.
 7. A method ofdisplaying an item name having a first word, a second word, and a thirdword on an item list of an item selection menu of a retail terminal,comprising the steps of: displaying a first version of said item name onsaid item list of said item selection menu such that said first word isfollowed by said second word which is followed by said third word;displaying a second version of said item name on said item list of saiditem selection menu such that said second word is followed by said firstword which is followed by said third word; and displaying a thirdversion of said item name on said item list of said item selection menusuch that said third word is followed by said first word which isfollowed by said second word.
 8. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising the steps of: determining if a user of said retail terminaloperates an input device associated with said retail terminal so as toselect said first version of said item name from said item list of saiditem selection menu and generating an item-entered control signal inresponse thereto; determining if said user of said retail terminaloperates said input device associated with said retail terminal so as toselect said second version of said item name from said item list of saiditem selection menu and generating said item-entered control signal inresponse thereto; and determining if said user of said retail terminaloperates said input device associated with said retail terminal so as toselect said third version of said item name from said item list of saiditem selection menu and generating said item-entered control signal inresponse thereto.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the stepof entering a record corresponding to an item associated with said itemname in an electronic transaction table in response to generation ofsaid item-entered control signal.
 10. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising the steps of: displaying an instruction which instructs auser to input a menu-change request if neither said first version ofsaid item name, said second version of said item name, nor said thirdversion of said item name is included in a first portion of said itemselection menu displayed with a display monitor associated with saidretail terminal; determining if said user operates an input deviceassociated with said retail terminal so as to input said menu-changerequest and generating a menu-change control signal in response thereto;and displaying a second portion of said item selection menu with saiddisplay monitor in response to generation of said menu-change controlsignal.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein: said step of displaying saidfirst version of said item name on said item list of said item selectionmenu includes the step of displaying said first version of said itemname in alphabetical order on said item list of said item selection menubased on said first word, said step of displaying said second version ofsaid item name on said item list of said item selection menu includesthe step of displaying said second version of said item name inalphabetical order on said item list of said item selection menu basedon said second word, and said step of displaying said third version ofsaid item name on said item list of said item selection menu includesthe step of displaying said third version of said item name inalphabetical order on said item list of said item selection menu basedon said third word.
 12. A retail terminal, comprising: a display monitorfor displaying an item name having a first word and a second word on anitem list of an item selection menu; a processing unit electricallycoupled to said display monitor; and a memory device electricallycoupled to said processing unit, wherein said memory device has storedtherein a plurality of instructions which, when executed by saidprocessing unit, causes said processing unit to: (i) display a firstversion of said item name on said item list of said item selection menuwith said display monitor such that said first word is followed by saidsecond word, and (ii) display a second version of said item name on saiditem list of said item selection menu with said display monitor suchthat said second word is followed by said first word.
 13. The retailterminal of claim 12, wherein: said item name further has a third wordassociated therewith, and said plurality of instructions, when executedby said processing unit, further causes said processing unit to: (i)display a third version of said item name on said item list of said itemselection menu with said display monitor such that said first word isfollowed by said second word which is followed by said third word, (ii)display a fourth version of said item name on said item list of saiditem selection menu with said display monitor such that said second wordis followed by said first word which is followed by said third word, and(iii) display a fifth version of said item name on said item list ofsaid item selection menu with said display monitor such that said thirdword is followed by said first word which is followed by said secondword.
 14. The retail terminal of claim 12, further comprising an inputdevice for receiving input from a user of said retail terminal, whereinsaid plurality of instructions, when executed by said processing unit,further causes said processing unit to: (i) determine if said user ofsaid retail terminal operates said input device so as to select saidfirst version of said item name from said item list of said itemselection menu and generate an item-entered control signal in responsethereto, and (ii) determine if said user of said retail terminaloperates said input device so as to select said second version of saiditem name from said item list of said item selection menu and generatesaid item-entered control signal in response thereto.
 15. The retailterminal of claim 14, wherein said plurality of instructions, whenexecuted by said processing unit, further causes said processing unit toenter a record corresponding to an item associated with said item namein an electronic transaction table in response to generation of saiditem-entered control signal.
 16. The retail terminal of claim 12,further comprising an input device for receiving input from a user ofsaid retail terminal, wherein said plurality of instructions, whenexecuted by said processing unit, further causes said processing unitto: (i) display an instruction with said display monitor which instructssaid user to input a menu-change request if neither said first versionof said item name nor said second version of said item name is includedin a first portion of said item selection menu displayed with saiddisplay monitor; (ii) determine if said user operates said input deviceso as to input said menu-change request and generate a menu-changecontrol signal in response thereto; and (iii) display a second portionof said item selection menu with said display monitor in response togeneration of said menu-change control signal.
 17. The retail terminalof claim 12, wherein said plurality of instructions, when executed bysaid processing unit, further causes said processing unit to: (i)display said first version of said item name in alphabetical order onsaid item list of said item selection menu based on said first word, and(ii) display said second version of said item name in alphabetical orderon said item list of said item selection menu based on said second word.